A06491:461
The chief and principal articles of the Christen faith to hold against the Pope,…The chiefe and pryncypall articles of the Christen faythe to holde againste the Pope,…
The chief and principal articles of the Christen faith to hold against the Pope, and all papists, and the gates of hell, with other three very profitable and necessary books the names or titles, whereof are contain in the leaf next following. Made by Doctor Marten Luther. To the reader. In this book shall you find Christian reader the right probation of the right old catholic Church, and of the new false Church, whereby either of them is to be known. Read and judge.The chiefe and pryncypall articles of the Christen faythe to holde againste the Pope, and al papistes, and the gates of hell, with other thre very profitable and necessary bokes the names or tyttels, whereof are conteyne in the leafe next followynge. Made by Doctor Marten Luther. To the reader. In thys boke shal you fynde Christian reader the ryght probation of the righte olde catholyke Churche, and of the newe false Churche, whereby eyther of them is to be knowen. Reade and iudge.
printed by S. Mierdman for Gwalter Lynne, 1548
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The fourth commandment. Thou shalt honour thy father and thy mother.
The fourth commaundement. Thou shalt honour thy father and thy mother.
First do I learn here to know God my creator, how wonderfully he hath shapen me with body and soul, and given me life through my parents, and hath given them the mind that they as the fruit of their body have served me, with all their power, brought me into the world, educated me, tended me, governed me, & brought me up with great diligence, care danger, labour, and travail, and hath preserved me his creation unto this hour in body and soul from innumerable dangers, and necessities, and hath also oftentimes delivered me from them, as though he created me a new every hour. For the devil would ⟨image 113⟩not have us live the space of one moment.
Fyrst do I learne here to knowe God my creatour, howe wonderfully he hath shapen me with body and soule, and geuen me lyfe through my pareutes, and hath geuen them the mynd that they as the fruyie of theyr body haue serued me, with all theyr power, brought me into the worlde, educated me, tēded me, gouerned me, & brought me vp with great diligence, care daunger, labour, and trauayle, and hath preserued me hys creation vnto this houre in body and soule from innumerable daungers, and necessities, and hath also oftentymes delyuered me from them, as though he created me a newe euery houre. For the deuyll woulde ⟨image 113⟩not haue vs lyue the space of one moment.
Secondarily, I do thank our rich and bountiful creator for me self and for all the world, that in this commandment he hath instituted and preserved the increase, multiplication and entertainment of mankind, that is, house and Town, being or oeconomyam, and Politiam, for without these two beings or regiments, the world were not able to continue one year, seeing without worldly governance, there can be no peace, where no peace is, there can be no house hold, where no household is, there can neither children be brought forth nor educated, And the estate of fatherhood and motherhood should altogether cease, But therefore is this commandment ordained, which keepeth and entertaineth both housekeeping and Townekepynge, and commandeth the children, and the subjects obedience. It doth also look to it, that it be done, or if it be not done, it leaveth not the transgressors unpunished,